Brakpan

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Brakpan
Town
Pentecost Protestant Church-Brakpan-001.jpg
Pentecost Protestant Church, Abramowitz Street, Brakpan
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Brakpan
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Brakpan
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Brakpan
Coordinates: 26°14′07″S28°22′12″E / 26.23528°S 28.37000°E / -26.23528; 28.37000
Country South Africa
Province Gauteng
Municipality Ekurhuleni
Area
[1]
 • Total
182.81 km2 (70.58 sq mi)
Elevation
1,631 m (5,351 ft)
Population
 (2011) [1]
 • Total
73,080
 • Density400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
 •  Black African 39.7%
 •  Coloured 2.5%
 •  Indian/Asian 4.1%
 •  White 53.3%
 • Other0.4%
First languages (2011)
[1]
 •  Afrikaans 47.2%
 •  English 16.5%
 •  Zulu 14.3%
 •  Sotho 4.8%
 • Other17.2%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
1540
PO box
1540
Area code 011
Website http://www.brakpan-online.co.za/

Brakpan is a mining town on the East Rand of Gauteng, South Africa, approximately 38 kilometres (23.6 mi) east of Johannesburg.

Contents

History

The name Brakpan comes from a small pan on a farm called Weltevreden, which was filled with very brackish water and was probably referred to as the "brakpan," and it was near this pan that the first settlement started. [2] : 286  In 1888, a coal seam was discovered and a coal mine under the name of Brakpan Collieries was started. When a railway line was constructed from Germiston to Springs, Brakpan became one of the stations along the route.

With gold fever running high on the Witwatersrand in the early years of the twentieth century, it was not long before gold was discovered. In 1905, Brakpan Mines Company sunk its first two gold mining shafts. One of its claims to fame was that it had the highest mine dump in the world at that time, 120 metres (390 ft) above ground level. This was higher than any of the pyramids of Egypt except the Pyramid of Cheops. [3]

From 1905 the village began to grow rapidly, remaining a suburb of Benoni until 1912 when it was granted the status of a municipality and proclaimed as a town. Brakpan's central position makes it a good distribution centre for industry, especially engineering works and foundries. In the late 1990s the municipality approved the construction of a huge casino and entertainment complex, Carnival City, [4] which opened the town to tourists and provided much-needed jobs for the people.

The first activity which drew people to the area was the British coal mining in 1888 and the large coal powered power station also built by the British. A tram line to Johannesburg was built at this time to service the power station.

The Main Reef Road (today part of the R29) linked Brakpan to all the other mining towns in the Witwatersrand. Brakpan was a suburb of Benoni from 1914–1919, when it was granted municipal status. [2] : 286  The Brakpan miners were involved in the miners' strike of 1922. The town has gradually lost its importance as a gold mining area as the surrounding mines suffered from low yield over high cost. Many British residents emigrated during the apartheid era leaving a vacuum in the town which was filled by mostly Afrikaner farmers who had lost interest in farming.

Situated between Springs and Benoni, it forms part of the Ekurhuleni Metro.

Brakpan is often used in memes in South African online communities, often depicted in a way similar to Southern US locations in US centric memes. [5]

Transport

Roads

Brakpan is mainly located along the N17 highway leading eastwards from Boksburg and Johannesburg to Springs and Secunda (102 km). In passing through Brakpan, the N17 gives access to the town via the exits at Heidelberg Road, Denne Road and Ergo Road.

Running parallel to the N17, the R554 (Elsburg Road; Springs Road) leads south-westwards to Alberton – 34 km and eastwards to Springs. The R23 (Heidelberg Road) skirts Brakpan to the west, leading northwards to Benoni and southwards to Heidelberg – 35 km.

The M45 (Prince George Avenue) leads north-westwards to Benoni and southwards to KwaThema. The M46 leads westwards from Brakpan to Boksburg and eastwards to Springs. In passing through Brakpan, the M46 holds several names such as Airport Road, Athlone Avenue, Voortrekker Road, Prince George Avenue and Olympia Road. Voortrekker Road is the main street through the Brakpan CBD.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benoni, South Africa</span> Place in Gauteng, South Africa

Benoni is a town on the East Rand, Gauteng, South Africa, some 26 kilometres (16 mi) east of Johannesburg, within the City of Ekurhuleni municipality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Rand</span> Eastern region of Gauteng, South Africa

The East Rand is a major urban area located in the Gauteng province of South Africa. It is the urban eastern part of Witwatersrand that is functionally merged with the Johannesburg conurbation. The region extends from Alberton in the west to Springs in the east, and south down to Nigel. It includes the towns of Bedfordview, Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Edenvale, Germiston, Kempton Park, Linksfield and Modderfontein. The East Rand is known as the transport hub of Johannesburg and includes Africa's largest and second busiest airport, OR Tambo International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springs, South Africa</span> Place in Gauteng, South Africa

Springs is a former independent city that is now part of the City of Ekurhuleni, based in the east of Johannesburg, in Gauteng Province, South Africa. It lies 50 km (31 mi) east of Johannesburg and 72 km (45 mi) southeast from Pretoria. Its name derives from the large number of springs in the area, and its estimated population is more than 121,610 in 2011. It is situated at 1,628 m (5,341 ft) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberton, South Africa</span> Place in Gauteng, South Africa

Alberton is a town situated on the southern part of the East Rand of the Gauteng Province in South Africa and is situated very close to the major urban centre of Johannesburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boksburg</span> Town in Gauteng, South Africa

Boksburg is a city on the East Rand of Gauteng province of South Africa. Gold was discovered in Boksburg in 1887. Boksburg was named after the State Secretary of the South African Republic, W. Eduard Bok. The Main Reef Road linked Boksburg to all the other major mining towns on the Witwatersrand and the Angelo Hotel (1887) was used as a staging post.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R23 (South Africa)</span> Road in South Africa

The R23 is a provincial route in South Africa that links Benoni with Volksrust via Brakpan, Heidelberg and Standerton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R29 (South Africa)</span> Road in South Africa

The R29 is a provincial route in South Africa that connects Johannesburg with Leandra and Kinross via Germiston, Boksburg, Benoni and Springs. For much of its route it is named Main Reef Road. The R29 used to end near the Golela border post with Eswatini, however the section from Evander to Ermelo is now part of the N17 and the section from Ermelo to the Golela border post just after Pongola is now part of the N2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N12 (South Africa)</span> National road in South Africa

The N12 is a national route in South Africa which runs from George through Beaufort West, Kimberley, Klerksdorp and Johannesburg to eMalahleni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N17 (South Africa)</span> National road in South Africa

The N17 is a national route in South Africa which runs from Johannesburg to Oshoek (Ngwenya) on the border with Eswatini. It passes through Springs, Bethal and Ermelo.

The R554 is a Regional Route in Gauteng, South Africa. The road connects the southern suburbs of Soweto with Springs on the East Rand via Lenasia, Alberton and Brakpan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witwatersrand Command</span> Command of the South African Army

The Witwatersrand Command was a Command of the South African Army. It was one of the ten regional commands, which, with the Walvis Bay Military Area, made up the Territorial Force.

The M43 is a metropolitan route, South Africa that connects Vosloorus with the Birchleigh suburb of Kempton Park via Boksburg.

The M31 is a metropolitan route in the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. The road connects the southern suburbs of Alberton with Johannesburg's northern suburbs. The route's eastern bypass in the Johannesburg CBD connects the M2 motorway at the Heidelberg Interchange with M1 North motorway in Houghton and then the route follows the M1 motorway northwards until the M31 ends in Bramley.

The M37 is a metropolitan route in Greater Johannesburg, South Africa. It connects the N3 at Greenstone Shopping Mall with Katlehong via Edenvale and Germiston.

The M39 is a long metropolitan route in Greater Johannesburg, South Africa. It connects Kyalami with Germiston via Midrand, Kempton Park & Isando.

The M45 is a long metropolitan route in Greater Johannesburg, South Africa. It connects Kempton Park with Dunnottar via Benoni, Brakpan, KwaThema and Tsakane. The entire route is in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

The M46 is a short metropolitan route in Greater Johannesburg, South Africa. It connects Tulisa Park in Johannesburg South with Springs via Germiston, Boksburg and Brakpan.

The M53 is a short metropolitan route in Greater Johannesburg, South Africa. It connects Germiston with Vosloorus via Elsburg.

The M56 is a short metropolitan route in Greater Johannesburg, South Africa. It connects Boksburg with the northern part of Springs via Brakpan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Main Place Brakpan". Census 2011.
  2. 1 2 Conolly, Denis (1975). The Tourist in South Africa. Travel-Guide (PTY) LTD. ASIN   B0000E7XZN.
  3. ↑ "Alberton property | find property for sale and estate agents in Alberton | properties Alberton South Africa". Sahometraders.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  4. ↑ Carnival City's web page
  5. ↑ "29 Brakpan ideas | brakpan, funny pictures, funny". Pinterest. Retrieved 2022-02-11.